of that Title they might make themselves Masters of those Revenues of which they were only the Stewards and Distributers that the Estates and Revenues of the Laity ought to be reputed the Patrimony of the Church as well as those of the Clergy that the Clergy was the smallest part of the Church and ought to contribute proportionably for the security and preservation of the Government by which they were protected That he acknowledg'd 't wou'd be expedient to find out some other more plausible Pretences than the Good of the State to prevent an Insurrection of the People who were commonly possess'd both by the Regular and Secular Clergy that all Attempts upon their Temporalties strike at Religion it self That to frustrate their Claims he must take advantage of Luther's Reformation which began then to take Root in the Kingdom and by the help of his Doctrin which equally invaded the Temporal Power and the excessive Wealth of the Clergy he might afterwards seize the Forts that were in the Hands of the Bishops and re-unite to the Crown all the Lands that were alienated by his Predecessors with more Zeal than Policy That Pope Leo X. had indeed condemn'd Luther but it was well known that famous Doctor was only odious to the Court of Rome because he boldly and publickly censur'd its great Corruption and Abuses and that his Opinions which might pass for indifferent among other Nations as long as they were not condemn'd by the Church in a General Council were in the mean time of the greatest Importance for the settling of his Power in Sweden and the success of his Design That the People having their Minds prepar'd and possess'd by Lutheran Doctors wou'd see with great satisfaction the Clergy stript of their great Estates especially if care were taken at the same time to ease the People of the heavy Taxes That one of the best Expedients wou'd be to restore to the Gentry the Lands given away by their Ancestors to the Church and that they wou'd never be tempted to oppose a Doctrin that shou'd bring so great a Blessing to their Families That the greatest part of the Monks lookt upon their Monasteries as dismal tho' stately Prisons and many of 'em would be glad to quit 'em and embrace a Religion which restor'd 'em to all the Rights of Civil Society That the inferior Clergy wou'd joyfully take hold of that occasion to free themselves from the Vows of Celibacy and exchange their scandalous Concubinage for lawful Matrimony That the Bishops alone as being most powerful and most concern'd in that Change would probably oppose it but that things were in a better posture than in the Reign of King Canutson there being no Bishops in Sweden in a condition to make War against their Sovereign and if they shou'd obstinately persist in the old Religion it might perhaps be an Advantage to him That their Number was inconsiderable and 't would be no difficult matter under specious Pretences to remove or banish 'em whereas if they embrace Lutheranism they might pretend by marrying to erect their Bishopricks into secular Principalities and consequently frustrate him of the main Benefit he cou'd expect from the Establishment of the Lutheran Doctrin in his Kingdom That after all the Archbishop and Primate John Magnus was a timorous and wavering Prelate and a Man of no Interest who probably wou'd think himself happy tho' with the loss of part of his Estate to be excused from imbracing the predominant Religion of the Kingdom That the Bishops of Stregnez and Westeras whom he had newly preferred to those two rich Benefices were of mean Extraction and of too little Credit among the People to dare to oppose his Will and that the Bishops of Vexio and Aboo knew little of the state of the Controversy betwixt the Roman Catholicks and the Lutherans and had no great mind to dive into that Matter That those Prelates were illiterate Men and such as wou'd be affected with nothing so much as the lessening of their Revenues That their irregular Lives and Conversations had drawn such a Scandal upon 'em as wou'd make it inconsistent with their Interest to thwart the Designs of their Sovereign but wou'd rather incline 'em to imbrace any Offer that shou'd not oblige 'em to forsake their Pleasures So there remain'd only the Bishops of Lincopine and Scara who might oppose his Designs two Prelates really infatuated with their Dignity jealous of all their Rights wedded to their own Opinions inclin'd still to the Danish Faction notwithstanding all King Christiern's Cruelties and the most like to blind the People with a plausible pretence of appearing in the Defence of the true Religion But when Lutheranism shou'd be once receiv'd by the States of the Realm by the plurality of Voices 't wou'd be an easy thing to make the Resistance of those Bishops a Crime of State and to banish 'em out of the Kingdom with all such as should appear most stifly bent for the preservation of the ancient Religion To which he added That he was not ignorant of the great Difficulties which always attended the Infancy of Governments and Empires but that those very Princes who meet with opposition and resistance in the beginning of their Reigns are at last commonly respected and lookt upon as the Fathers of their Country Gustavus cou'd not but relish those Reasons of State that were so agreeable to the secret Scheme he had laid for the securing of his Government He foresaw the Emperor's Credit with the Pope wou'd hinder his Holiness from declaring in his behalf and therefore thought 't wou'd be expedient to pull down his Authority in Sweden and that nothing cou'd be more conducive to that end than Lutheranism He therefore easily suckt in those Tenents which perhaps he lookt upon but as the Result of some Disputations among Divines and thought at the same time he might reasonably imbrace that Party which seemed most favourable to the settling of his Regal Power which most Sovereigns either do not or will not distinguish from the Good of the State The King wou'd have willingly declar'd in behalf of Lutheranism but that the Change of Religion was not a sufficient Ground for him to compass his Designs and besides a sudden Change might have prov'd of very ill consequence It was therefore safest for his unsettl'd Power to see the Change begun by the People and that he shou'd seem afterwards to embrace this Doctrin out of meer Complaisance to his Subjects But all the Swedes had not the same Inclination to those new Opinions as the King had nor so pressing an Interest to change their Religion Gustavus foresaw that this Change wou'd not be the Work of one Year by reason of the great and apparent Obstacles that must be first overcome He was not ignorant there wou'd be a great number of eminent Persons in the Realm and even in his own Court that wou'd oppose his Enterprise and quit his Interest upon the very first
Towns and Castles where they were in Garrison and shut themselves up in those Places not so much to defend and keep 'em for the King of Denmark as on purpose to retain 'em as Pledges for the payment of their Arrears and to obtain more advantageous Terms from the Victorious Party It was with no small Trouble and Vexation that Christiern heard of the Transactions in Sweden he did not find himself in a condition to go into that Kingdom and cou'd not spare the Forces he had in Denmark The whole Realm was full of Disaffected Persons for that Prince who was grown more cruel fince the Massacre at Stockholm observ'd no Measures with his Subjects he indifferently exercis'd his Authority on the Lives and Estates of the Danes without any respect to the Dignity of the Persons or to the Laws and Priviledges of the Country he had caus'd several Gentlemen to be put to death without any Formality and on very weak Surmises and he had no less offended the Bishops and the whole body of the Clergy by the Praises he publickly bestow'd on Luther who under colour of blaming the Abuses that were committed in Germany in the publication of Indulgences openly Condemn'd the Wealth which the Bishops enjoy'd and the Temporal Power they assum'd The Court of Rome usually employ'd the Augustine Fryars to publish Indulgences in Saxony by which they reap'd no small profit and which procur'd 'em a great Authority in that Country The Jacobins under the Pontificate of Leo the X. got this Commission from 'em These Monks to shew their Zeal in this new employment and perhaps to inhance the income of their Mission cry'd up in their Sermons the vertues and efficacy of Indulgences in which they us'd certain Expressions that were not at all agreeable either to the design of the Church or to the intent of the Bull that Authoriz'd ' em Besides these Collectors led a Life not over Regular 't is said they kept their Offices in Taverns and often spent there in Feasting what was the product of the people's Zeal and what good mens Devotion made em spare even from their necessary occasions Martin Luther of the Order of St. Austin Doctor and Professor in the University of Witemberg pretended to be mov'd with these disorders but in reality desirous to revenge his Brethren began in his Sermons to fly out into sharp invectives against the bad use these Collectors made of their Authority He was a great Scholar and an Eloquent Orator hasty daring and headstrong conceited with his own Learning and Sentiments and over fond of that glory which is acquir'd by broaching new Opinions undaunted and so obstinate as never to retract what he had once affirm'd He contenttd himfelf at first with preaching against the unedifying manner of bestowing these extraordinary Favours but exasperated by the Affronts and Threats of the Jacobins he looked back as far as the first Original of Indulgences He proposed new Doctrines on the Subject of Iustification of Remission of sins of Penance and Purgatory and at last spoke against the Popes Authority from whence his adversaries derived the proofs by which they wou'd establish Indulgences He taught in his Wiritings and Preached in his Sermons that we are justified by Faâ—th alone that Penance consisted only in a sincere Contrition and that Confession was but an unprofitable Repetition of our Faults that to obtain Remission of sins 't was sufficient to believe with a Lively Faith that they were forgiven that Indulgences were neither recommended nor ordained to us for our practices and that they were equally useless in this World and in the next that Purgatory was but a Modern invention contrived by the Monks to cheat People out of their money that the Mass was no Sacrifice that it was of no benefit to the dead that that and all other Prayers of the Church were to be Read in the vulgar tongue and above all that the Holy Sacrament was to be Administred to the Faithful in both kinds The Pope allarm'd by this new Doctrine which seemed to expose the nature and extent of his Power to the censure and examination of every particular Person thought to stifle so dangerous a Doctrine by condemning Luther as a Heretick and even ordered Jerom Alexander his Nuntio to Solicit the Elector of Saxony to deliver up the Seditious Monk that he might punish him as an Enemy to Religion Luther to secure himself against the practices of that Court and to engage the Duke of Saxony and all Secular Magistrates to protect him publish'd some new Writings as much in opposition to the Pope's Power as they were fovourable to Sovereign Princes he wrote against the Celibacy of the Priests and the Monachal vows he taught that the only vows that were obligatory were those of Baptism he inveigh'd against Hierarchy which he pretended was a Tyrannical Government he exclaim'd against the corruption of the Court of Rome and against the excessive Riches of the Church he advised in his Books and Sermons all the Sovereign Princes to take possession of the Funds and Revenues of the Bishopricks Abbys and Monasteries unless when there was a Sovereignty annexed to the Bishopricks and in that case he wou'd have the Bishop marry and not suffer such Persons as under the specious pretence of Celibacy ingag'd their Allegiance to a Foreign Power to remain in his Territories he wou'd have the Monasteries converted into publick Schools and Hospitals and the great Treatures those Houses enjoy'd to be employ'd partly in maintaining the Preachers Overseers and other Officers who should take care of the Poor and partly by the Prince in supplying the Exigences of the State and the Necessities of his People These last Opinions gain'd Luther more Followers then the first Propositions he had advanc'd on the obscure and crabbed Doctrine of Justification and of the merit of good Works Many German Princes under colour of this Doctrine depriv'd the Church of several Lands and Estates which they thought lay convenient for 'em And the King of Denmark after their Example usurp'd part of the Demeans of the Archbishop of Lunden as if he had already declar'd openly for the new Religion The Danish Clergy to be reveng'd for the Affront they met with under his Reign and perhaps to dispose People to a Rebellion gave out a Prophecy of S. Bridget to this effect That a King of Denmark should be expell'd out of his Kingdom because of his Barbarity Every one took Pleasure in applying this to Christiern but he having heard of it publickly made a Jest of it telling his Courtiers That that Bigot wrote every Morning the Dreams she had had over Night which she very piously took for Revelations and affecting to make that Saint the subject of his Mirth either out of a Spirit of Libertinism or which is more probable to discredit by a seeming Contempt and Derision a Prediction which whether true or false might make a dangerous Impression in Peoples Minds
of Denmark and Haquin was Assisted by the Norwegians Curlandians and Esthonians The two contending Princes Arm'd all their Subjects and even the Women were inspir'd with a generous Ambition to obtain a share both in the Hazard and Glory of so important an Action Hetha Commanded a company of Women in the Swedish Army and Visna march'd under the Danish Standards At last the two Armies came to a decisive Battle in which Harald was kill'd and the victorious Haquin having made himself Master of Denmark entrusted Hetlâ—a with the Government of that Conquer'd Kingdom Historians observe that the King of Sweden ow'd his Victory to the Valour of the Dalecarlians who inhabit one of the Northern Provinces of that Country Egil The Son and Successor of Haquin He impos'd a Tribute upon Amund King of Denmark subdu'd a seditious party that rebell'd against him and after all was unfortunately kill'd by a Wild Ox at Hunting Gother He seiz'd and carry'd away the Daughter of Amund King of Denmark and conquer'd Schonen and Haland which belong'd to the Danes At last he was kill'd by his own Subjects who revolted against him for establishing some new Laws that seem'd to encroach on the Priviledges and Liberty of the Nation Adelus Gother was succeeded by his Son Adelus whose reign is remarkable for his successful Expedition against the Danes to revenge the Death of his Sister who lost her life by the ill-grounded jealousie of her Husband Jammeric King of Denmark The King of Sweden invaded Denmark and besieg'd that cruel Prince who was no less odious to his own Subjects than to his Enemies Jammeric was taken after a Siege that lasted some Months and his Legs and Arms were cut off by the Victorious Swedes who pillag'd his Treasures and reunited the Provinces of Schonen Haland and Bleking to Gothland from which they were formerly dismember'd Ostan This Prince lost both his Crown and his Life by endeavouring to impose a Tax upon his Subjects for that fierce People who were extremely jealous of their Liberty were so incenst against a Prince whom they look'd upon as an Oppressor that having surpriz'd him in his House they Burnt him and his whole Family 'T is plain from this instance and from the History of the preceeding Kings that the fate of those Princes seem'd to be in the Power and to depend upon the Humor of their Subjects Ingomar Historians relate that Gothland was at that time subject to a distinct King who had a Daughter of admirable Beauty which is the usual Character of all the Princesses that are mention'd in those Ancient Histories Snio King of Denmark and Ingomar King of Sweden were both Captivated by the Charms of that young Beauty and tho' the former was more agreeable to the Daughter the latter was preferr'd by the Father who made the King of Sweden happy in the Possession of his Mistress with the Reversion of a Crown for her Dowry The King of Denmark cou'd not patiently bear the loss of so considerable a Prize He enter'd Sweden at the Head of an Army and having vanquish'd his Rival he seiz'd on the fair Queen who without reluctancy follow'd the Conqueror of her Husband But Ingomar was rather irritated than discourag'd by his mifortune He made new Levies invaded Denmark routed and kill'd Snio and was so far from scrupling to receive his Beautiful Wife that the difficulty of the Conquest serv'd only to lighten the pleasure of the Victory At last he was kill'd in a War which he undertook against the Russes Halstan I. Raguard Wartman Lordon Rodolph Gostag Arthur Haquin Charles IV. Charles V. Birger Eric V. Torril Biorn II. Alaric II. Here there is a long Interruption in the Swedish History for tho' the Names of the Princes who Govern'd that Kingdom from the Year 460 to the beginning of the Ninth Age are preserv'd the Memory of their Actions is entirely lost neither do we find in the Chronicles so much as an account of their Families Biorn III. The reign of this Prince may be reckon'd a considerable Aera in the History of Sweden For the Emperor Lewis the Gentle sent Angsarus Bishop of Breme who preach'd the Christian Doctrin in that Kingdom and converted several Petty Kings But notwithstanding all the labours of that Prelate Idolatry prevail'd in the Kingdom till the end of the Tenth Age when the People began to erect Churches to the Honor of the true GOD under the Reign of King Olaus the Tributary who openly profest the Christian Religion Braut-amund This Prince perceiving that the People were very numerous Disforested the Wooly and Untill'd Grounds and bestow'd 'em on his Subjects who by way of acknowledgment were oblig'd either to pay a certain Tribute or to Assist the King on Horse-back in time of War From hence we may reckon the Original of the Fiefs of this Kingdom which at first held immediately of the Crown but were afterwards usurp'd by the Clergy and Nobility King Braut-amund did not long enjoy the Advantage of this new settlement for his Brother Sivard rebell'd against him and kill'd him at the head of his Army in the third Year of his Reign Sivard II. The Swedes immediately plac'd the Crown on the head of the Victorious Rebel while he was yet stain'd with the Blood of his Brother and Sovereign For in those Days Force was the supreme Law and a fortunate Malefactor was prais'd and rewarded for a Crime that wou'd have been severely punish'd if it had not been attended with success Sivard seeing himself fixt on the Throne Invaded the Norwegians whom he surpriz'd before they cou'd put themselves in a posture of defence He pillag'd the whole Countrey ravish'd the most Beautiful Women and after he had satiated his own Lust left 'em to be abus'd by the chief Captains of his Army But these Barbarities were in some measure expiated by the speedy Vengeance that overtook the impious Tyrant The Norwegians animated with Despair and Fury made head against their Oppressor the very Women ran to Arms and Sivard himself fell by the hand of one of those Heroins whom he had abus'd as a Sacrifice to her injur'd Vertue and to the Honor of the Nation Herot This Prince had a Daughter who was reputed a compleat Beauty Regner King of Denmark demanded her for his Wife but the King of Sweden according to the usual custom of those Times wou'd not bestow the Princess upon him till he had signaliz'd his Courage by fighting against two Bears of a prodigious bigness who infested the Country about Vpsal Regner accepted the condition slew the two Bears and receiv'd the dear Recompence of his Valour Some Authors relate that these pretended Bears were two Robbers who made a terrible havock in the Country and for that Reason were call'd Wild Beasts by the People Charles VI. He was Elected by the unanimous consent of the Swedes Herot 's Children being excluded from the Succession One of the Sons of the Decea'd King was incited by
to his Advancement and began to complain in a very kind and obliging Manner that he had not yet appear'd at the Court. And in the general he omitted no Expressions of Kindness and Civility that might appease the Anger of that stubborn-Prelate and bring him back to a Sence of his Duty The Arch Bishop who was both vex'd and surpriz'd at that Prince's Arrival answer'd his Caresses with a Constraint and Disturbance that appear'd visibly in all his Actions However he entertain'd him with extraordinary Magnificence but that was meerly an Effect of his vanity and design'd rather to display his Power and Riches than to express his Joy and Gratitude for the Honor the Administrator had done him Nor cou'd he forbear in the Heat of their Discourse to reproach that Prince indirectly for using violent Methods to obtain a Dignity which was only due to the Merits of his Father The Administrator who was loath to quarrel with a Man whom he purposely came to oblige began to justify his Election but that haughty Prelate won'd not so much as condescend to hear his Reasons and told him with a great deal of heat that the Time wou'd come when a free Convention of the Estates wou'd do Justice to his Father and to all those who were dissatisfied with the Government The Prince was equally surpriz'd at the Arch-Bishop's Threatnings and incens'd at his Pride and Insolency He retir'd with a Resolution to imploy all his Power and Interest to humble him and least the Court of Rome which usually takes hold of such Occasions to extend its Authority under pretext of protecting the Clergy shou'd interpose in this Affair the Administrator wrote to the Pope to complain of the Insolence and ill Behaviour of that Prelate Not long after the Pope return'd an Answer full of kind and obliging Expressions He blam'd Trolle for his Turbulency and ingratitude and added that he had sent Orders to his Legat who was then at the Court of Denmark to go immediately to Sweden and in his Name to admonish the Arch-Bishop of his Duty But notwithstanding those specious pretences the Instructions he gave to his Legate were intended rather for a Complement than a real Satisfaction For tho' he seem'd to blame the Arch-Bishop he cou'd not but rejoyce in his Heart that both he and the other Prelates of the Kingdom whom the Court of Rome is wont always to look upon as her Subjects and Creatures shou'd extend their Power and assume a Share in the Government of the State And besides the Popes had always bore a secret Aversion to the Kings and Sovereigns of Sweden since those Princes had discontinu'd the payment of the Tribute usually call'd St. Peter's Pence Ann. 940. Bazius Hist. Eccles Suec Gotica 'T was impos'd by King Olaus as a Tax upon all his Subjects when the Christian Religion was first introduc'd into the Kingdom But most of his Successors refus'd to submit to an Imposition which was equally injurious both to the Prince and to the Subjects Several Popes had in Vain demanded that Tribute Honorius III. John XXII Innocent VI. Gregory XI and even some of 'em had darted their usual Thunders of Excommunication but without making the least impression upon those Princes So that the Court of Rome was at last oblig'd to give over its successless Attempts upon a People whose Eyes were open'd rather by Policy than Learning and who by an early and unanimous Resolution had shaken off the Fear of Ecclefiastical Censures The Administrator was admonish'd by his Council who were acquainted with the Inclinations and Politicks of the Court of Rome not to rely upon the Pope's Assistance in so dangerous a Juncture Nor did he place so much Confidence in the Apostolical Letters but at the same Time he took more effectual Measures for the Defence and preservation of his Authority He summon'd a Meeting of the Estates at Tellia under pretext that the Truce with Denmark was ready to expire but in effect to procure a new Confirmation of this Title and Authority and at the same time to discover the Strength of the Archbishop's Party That Prelate on the other hand made it his Business to gain more Friends to the King of Denmark and to raise new Enemies to the Administrator He exacted fresh Assurances of Fidelity from those of his Party and even engag'd the Governours of the Castles of Stockholm and Nicopinc in the Danish Faction Afterwards he sent a trusty Messenger to King Christiern to give him an Account of the present Posture of Affairs and of the Condition of his Party and to intreat him to advance immediately at the Head of his Army without staying for the end of the Truce which he might easily find several plausible Pretexts to violate And besides he order'd his Agent to assure him That the Government of the Castles of Stockholm and Nicopinc wou'd declare in his Favour and receive his Forces into the Places under their Command Christiern replied to these Solicitations that it wou'd not be sufficient to break the Truce unless the Estates of Denmark wou'd contribute to the War against Sweden that he was endeavouring to engage the principal persons of the Kingdom in that Design that he believ'd he had already gain'd the Legate that was going to Sweden that if the Negotiation of that Prelate shou'd not be attended with success he wou'd take care to start some difference betwixt the Two Nations and push it on so far that the Estates of Denmark shou'd be oblig'd to take up Arms in the defence of the Nation In the mean time the Estates of Sweden Assembled at Tellia where the Administrator had appointed 'em to meet and he had the pleasure to see that most of the Deputies were the same persons who had contributed most effectually to his Advancement This encourag'd him to summon the Arch-Bishop to repair thither in order to his qualifying himself for his Office by taking the usual Oath of Fidelity to the Estates But that Prelate not daring to appear in an Assembly where his Enemy had so strong a party shut himself up in the Fort of Steque which was a Castle seated on the top of a Hill and equally fortifi'd by Art and Nature The Arch-Bishop of Upsal had taken all imaginable care to render it Impregnable according to the Rules that were observ'd in those days and besides it was sufficiently secur'd by the privileges of the Clergy which made it an inviolable Sanctuary The Arch-Bishop call'd a meeting of the Bishops and others of his Faction and the Assembly was held in that Castle as if the Convention at Tellia had neither been free nor lawfully call'd Thus both parties were making preparations for an open Rupture Joan. Magnus vit Arcâ—iep Vpsal when John Angelo Arcemboldi Pope Leo the Tenth's Legate in the Northern Kingdoms arriv'd in Sweden and offer'd his Mediation to negotiate an Agreement betwixt the Arch-Bishop and the Administrator The Legate was of
Jaylor who after some time allow'd him the liberty of walking abroad and suffer'd him to take the diversion of Hunting New Recreations were propos'd to him every day and it seem'd to be the main Business of the Family to please him But all the Pleasures he enjoy'd in so obliging a Society cou'd neither make him forget that he was a Prisoner nor give him the least satisfaction while his Confinement depriv'd him of a share in the Hazard and Glory of the War His eager desire to serve the Administrator in the Defence of his Countrey and at the same time to execute his just Vengeance on the perfidious Author of his Captivity made him so uneasie that the most study'd Delights serv'd only to encrease his Melancholy On the other Hand King Christiern's Thoughts were so deeply six'd on the Conquest of Sweden and his Mind was so agitated with the tumultuous Motions of a disappointed Ambition that his Spite against the Administrator was exasperated by the ill success of the Siege of Steckholm He cou'd not forgive that Prince for obliging him to make so disorderly and ignominious a Retreat and cutting off part of his Army He was both vex'd and asham'd that he had publickly violated his Faith and the Law of Nations to no purpose by detaining Gustavus and the rest of the Hostages but nothing afflicted him more sensibly than the daily decrease of his Party in Sweden His Mind became a dismal Scene of Spite Rage and Shame and in the heat of his Fury he resolv'd to make a last effort the next Campaign to repair all his Losses by the ruine of his Enemy hoping that the success of his Arms wou'd in some measure justifie him for proceeding against the Swedes as rebellious Subjects and excommunicated Wretches without allowing 'em the Treatment which is usually granted to common Enemies He stood equally in need of Men and Money to carry on his Designs and to supply the last of these Deficiencies he gave Orders to his Officers to seize the Legate Archemboldi's Treasures under pretext that he had laid out the Money he had rais'd by the Sale of Indulgences on contraband Goods But his Guilt really consisted in a Million of Florins which he was going to carry out of the Northern Kingdoms and in holding Intelligence with the Administrator The King had heard of the ill Offices he did to the Arch-Bishop and was not ignorant that he had oblig'd all his Friends to make use of their Interest with the Pope to obtain the Arch-Bishoprick of Upsal And from thence he concluded that the Dignity to which he aspir'd with the Administrator's consent was the reward of his betraying the Secret with which he had entrusted him to that Prince and that his Infidelity had ruin'd the Danish Faction in Sweden The Prospect of so profitable a Revenge was in his Opinion a sufficient Ground to excuse an open violation of the Law of Nations He caus'd the Legate to be secur'd with all his Effects and that he might not be oblig'd to restore the Treasure he had seiz'd or submit to an Examination of the Privileges to which the Function and Character of that Prelate entitl'd him he gave secret Orders to suffer him to steal out of the Kingdom after he had been kept for some time in perpetual Fear of Death that he might take hold of the first Opportunity to make his Escape By this usage of the Legate it appear'd that the seeming Zeal of that Prince in executing the Orders of the Holy See was only a Politick Contrivance to carry on his Ambitious Designs which he endeavour'd always to cover with a pretext of Religion He imploy'd the Legate's Money in making new Levies and impos'd heavy and unusual Taxes upon his Subjects without the Advice or Consent of the Estates The Clergy and Nobility oppos'd these Innovations and positively refus'd to contribute towards the raising of the Supplies under pretext that neither the Taxes nor the Declaration of the War were authoriz'd or approv'd either by the Senate or Estates But their real design was to put a stop to his Ambition and curb the Impetuosity of his Temper for they were extreamly jealous of his Designs and perhaps were not less afraid than the Swedes of the Success of his Arms. In the mean time he squeez'd considerable sums out of the common People who are usually the first who feel the burthen of Taxes and are seldom or never assisted by the Nobility and other Estates who content themselves with securing themselves He levy'd foreign Troops with the Money he had rais'd by these Impositions he invited all the Soldiers of Fortune and straggling Adventurers that would enter into his Service and even preferr'd 'em before the Danes in the Distribution of Offices and Places that his Arms might be lodg'd in the hands of those who depended intirely upon him At the same time he prevailed with Francis I. King of France to assist him with 4000 Foot under the Command of Gaston de Brezé the Prince of Foucarmont and the Baron of Gondrin Thus in a little time he had the Pleasure to see himself at the head of a numerous Army which made him equally terrible to his Subjects and Enemies He conferr'd the Title and Authority of General on Otho Crumpein who was esteem'd one of the greatest Captains in the North and entrusted him with the management of his Designs and the command of his Forces not daring to leave Copenhagen at a time when there were so many visible Signs of a general Dissatisfaction among the Senators and the principal Lords of the Kingdom Otho led his Army to Westgethland where he made a terrible havock to draw the Enemy to an Engagement Febr. In the mean time the Administrator march'd at the head of his Army follow'd by Ten Thousand Peasants of that Province who came voluntarily to his Assistance He encamp'd at the entry of the Forest of Tyvede having order'd a great number of Trees to be cut down to fortifie his Camp and Trenches Otho pretended to be somewhat daunted at the sight of the Swedish Forces and retreated with a seeming Precipitation to the Lake Veler which was at that time cover'd with Ice upon which he encamp'd with his whole Army Steno was so transported at the sight of a Flying Enemy that he was not master of so much presence of Mind as to restrain the impetuous Ardor of his Courage He left his Infantry and the Peasants in the Wood where they lay entrench'd and march'd with his Cavalry after the Danes whom he attack'd near Bogesund His Valor and Example inspir'd all the Soldiers in his Army with a Resolution to conquer or die He charg'd at the Head of a Squadron compos'd of the principal Noblemen of the Kingdom he drove back all that durst venture to stand the Shock of his Attack and broke thro' their thickest Ranks with so brave a Fury that he was just ready to taste the pleasure of so glorious
zealous Catholicks of the Kingdom The Clergy-men but the Monks especially exclaim'd against him with all the extravagance of Spite and Fury scattering scurrilous Libels among the People in which they branded him with the odious Character of a Heretic and of an excommunicated Prince And even some of the hottest of 'em propos'd to make void his Election The Mob that were easily set on Fire by any pretext of Religion join'd with 'em in the heat of their Resentment The Peasants among others cou'd not indure to part with their Bells and the Silver Crosses of their Churches which often made the most essential part of their Worship These wild and savage People were the fittest Tools to carry on the Designs of the Priests who perswaded 'em that these Innovations tended directly to the subversion of Religion and Liberty Some of 'em took up Arms pursu'd the King's Officers and having recover'd their Bells brought 'em back to their Villages in a kind of Triumph A great Fair was yearly held near Vpsal about this time of the Year with an extraordinary Concourse of People from all the neighbouring Provinces This was a sort of Convention of the Estates for the Country People who discoursed here of their Trade of the Affairs of each Province but especially of the Differences that arose about the Preservation of their Rights and Priviledges The Malecontents glad of this opportunity to stir up a Rebellion did privately dispose the chief of 'em to demand the Revocation of the last Decree of the Senate as to the Tithes and Church-bells The King had timely notice of their Designs by the secret Intelligencers whom he kept every where The Mony he liberally distributed among 'em made 'em pry into every Corner and industriously pump out the greatest Secrets By these Spies he learnt that the Country-people animated by the Clergy were resolv'd to rise up in Arms at Vpsal-Fair unless their Bells were speedily restor'd To prevent the threatening Danger Gustavus went immediately to the Fair at the Head of a Body of Horse and by his unexpected Arrival surpriz'd the Mutineers and put 'em into a great Consternation He spoke to 'em with a certain Air of Greatness and Authority like a Prince that has a Right to command and will be obey'd He ask'd 'em with a fierce Look who had intrusted 'em with the Care of the Government by what Authority they censured the Decrees of the Senate and whether they had forgotten that the Bishops and the whole Clergy were greater Enemies to their Country than the very Danes Then to gain 'em by the most winning and convincing Argument he told 'em that by the late Decree of the Senate concerning the Tithes to which he gave his Assent 't was plain the Ease of the People was his principal Aim that to pay the Regency of Lubeck in so pressing a juncture of Affairs 't was thought more reasonable to fleece a rich Clergy than to over-burden the People with new Taxes and Impositions He hop'd that this Discourse wou'd have either frighten'd or wheedl'd 'em into a Compliance with his Desires but instead of that the insolent Multitude began to exclaim with a great deal of Violence that they wou'd never suffer their Religion to be alter'd nor their Bells and Church-plate to be taken from ' em The King incens'd at their Audaciousness commanded his Men to fire upon the Mutineers who observing the posture of his Horse just going to give sire â—â—ll upon their Knees and begg'd his Majesty's Pardon The Ring-leaders of the Mutiny were secur'd while the rest hid themselves in the Crowd or escap'd in the Dark In short they presently dispers'd and retir'd with an awful Idea of a Prince who knew so well how to extort Obedience This mutinous Assembly was no sooner dispers'd by his Presence but a new Plot was laid to Dethrone him A certain Groom call'd Hans of the Parish of Biorchstrat in the Province of Westmannia form'd a Design infinitely above the meanness of his Condition Afpiring to no less than a Crown he personated the eldest Son of the deceased Administrator tho' that young Prince died a Year before He was perswaded by some disaffected People that the Swedes who were incens'd against Gustavus and weary of his Government wou'd chuse rather to place him upon the Throne than suffer any change in Religion The Impostor was a handsom and bold Person He spoke with a great deal of Freedom and Ease and had a nobler Air than was suitable to his Birth or Education He travell'd over all the Province of Dalecarlia under the Name of Nils Steno never appear'd but in the remotest Places and such as had the least relation to the Court nor did he long reside in the same place When he appear'd abroad he was very Reserv'd and full of Precaution insinuating that Gustavus cou'd not indure the sight of him because it check'd his Conscience and put him in mind of the Crown he had usurp'd to the prejudice of the Family to which he ow'd his Fortune and Advancement Therefore that violent Prince cou'd never look upon him but with Eyes full of Fury that he had several times attempted to Kill him and that the Princess his Mother fearing the worst had advis'd him to retire Then he ask'd the People in a very moving and patheâ—ic manner whether so inhuman and cruel a Treatment was a suitable Recompence for the Life his Father the Administrator had lost in the Defence of their Country At the Name of Steno this Cheat always burst forth into Tears Falling upon his Knees he conjur'd the Peasants to pray to God for the Soul of the Prince his Father and to say each a Pater noster in his behalf while they were allow'd to believe a Purgatory Then he exclaim'd against Gustavus's Government calling him an Usurper and an Heretic that had renounc'd the Religion of his Ancestors And whereas those Peasants were extremely jealous of their Customs he charg'd him with Innovation for affecting a more stately Garb than his Predecessors pretending that he design'd to alter the very Habit as well as the Religion of the Nation and wou'd oblige all his Subjects to consent to these unsufferable Changes 'T is thought the Bishop of Lincopinc and the chief of the Clergy had a hand in this Conspiracy hoping by this means to raise such a Commotion as might occasion a Revolution in the Government At least 't is certain that that Bishop and those of his Party seem'd to believe that he was really the Administrator's Son to give the greater Credit to the Impostor who by the secret Protection of the Clergy and other Malecontents saw himself in a short time follow'd by a Crowd of Peasants and other indebted Persons whose desperate Condition made 'em ready to embrace the first opportunity of a Change Gustavus knew not whether to march against him or neglect so groundless a Rumor he was irresolute for some time and waver'd 'twixt Hope and Fear for
King immediately caus'd 'em to be Beheaded to curb by so necessary a severity the seditious and inconstant Humor of these People Thus by an innocent Artifice and commendable Diligence he appeas'd a furious Infurrection without any Effusion of Blood or Diminution of his Forces These were the last Efforts of an Unbridl'd and Tumultuous Liberty which was forc'd to give way to a more absolute and consequently more peaceful Dominion After this the whole Kingdom submitted to the King and all his Subjects imbrac'd Lutheranism some out of regard to their private Interest and to make their Court and others out of their abhorrence of the irregular Life of the Clergy The Lutheran Doctors gain'd some Proselytes by perswading 'em that their Masters Opinions in Matters of Religion which were falsly reckon'd Innovations were nothing else but primitive Christianity restor'd and purg'd from all Monkish Superstitions and many were glad to be convinc'd of the Truth of the prevailing Religion that they might preserve their Estates without being forc'd to seek their Fortunes abroad Gustavus seeing that most of his Subjects had chang'd their Religion at last declar'd himself a Lutheran He made Olaus Petri Pastor of the Church of Stockholm and his Brother Laurentius Petri Arch-Bishop of Vpsal Upon this new Prelate he bestow'd a Lady who was related to him that the Honor of his Alliance might oblige the People to entertain less scandalous notions of a Marri'd Priest or perhaps that so illustrious a Match might make amends for the great Revenues he had withdrawn from so rich a Benefice The King's Coronation follow'd soon after and was perform'd at Vpsal by this Prelate with great Solemnity January 12. and at the same time he Conferr'd the Honor of Knighthood on all the Senators and the chief Lords of the Court. Sweden was Lutheran all over King Senators Bishops and all the Nobility made publick Profession of that Religion But whereas most of the Country Curates and others of the inferior Clergy had imbrac'd it meerly by force or out of weakness an extravagant Medly of Roman Ceremonies and Lutheran Prayers was introduc'd into several Churches in the Kingdom Some Married Priests and Curates continu'd still to say Mass in several Places according to the Roman Ritual and Liturgy Baptism was administred with all the Prayers and Exorcisms appointed by the Church and the Dead were Buri'd with the same Prayers that are us'd to beg God to relieve the Souls of the Faithful tho' the Doctrin of Purgatory was condemn'd by the Lutherans The King desirous to establish an uniformity of Worship throughout the whole Kingdom a thing so necessary for the publick Peace especially in a Monarchy call a general Assembly of the whole Clergy in the form of a National Council The Assembly was held at Orebro the chief Town of Nericia Loc. l. 6. p. 276. Bazius Mist Eccle. Succ. and the Chancellor Lardz-Anderson presided in the Kings Name This Lutheran Council was compos'd of the Bishops Doctors and Pastors of the principal Churches They own'd the Augsburg-Confession as the Rule and Standard of their Faith and solemnly renounc'd their Obedience to the Pope as Head of the Church They order'd the Roman Worship to be intirely abolish'd prohibited all Prayers for the Dead borrow'd from the Lutheran Churches of Germany the manner of administring Baptism and the Communion declar'd the Marriage of Priests Lawful and Condemn'd Celibacy and Monastick Vows They confirm'd the Ordinance of the Estates at Westeras by which the Church lost her Priviledges and the greatest part of her Revenues And which is observable these Regulations were made by almost the same Persons who the Year before had shew'd so much zeal for the Defence of the Ancient Religion so few there are that can long withstand the fear of Persecution or the hopes of Favour Yet they met with great difficulties in abolishing the Practice of the Roman Church in the Administration of the Sacraments The People and the Women especially cou'd not be satisfy'd without the Ceremonies of Baptism and the Prayers for the Dead The whole Kingdom was fill'd with Marmurings and Complaints upon the Occasion Most Women thro' an excessive Fear proceeding perhaps as much from their Temper as Virtue thought their Children cou'd not be well baptiz'd without the use of Salt and Exorcisms And a small residue of Faith as to the belief of Purgatory created such a disturbance in their Minds on the account of their deceas'd Relations as cou'd not be allay'd by all the Eloquence of the Lutheran Doctors Gustavus fearing the Complaints and Discontent of the People shou'd break out into a new Rebellion order'd the Lutheran Ministers to comply with those who stood up obstinately for the ancient Ceremonies and not to use the new but where they found a Temper dispos'd to receive ' em The King having thus compleated the alteration of Religion undertook another Project which gave him no less hope of filling his Coffers Most of the Swedish Provinces were formerly over-spread with vast Forests King Olaus Traetelga Amund An. 891. and some of their Successors caus'd a great part of 'em to be Dis-forested and bestow'd these new Lands in Fee-farm upon the Nobility and Gentry for which they were to pay a certain Duty to the Crown The Lords and Gentlemen had by degrees during the Civil Wars exempted themselves from paying those ancient Duties and a long Prescription seem'd to have abolish'd 'em till they were reviv'd by the King who requir'd both from the Nobility and Gentry either to part with their Fiefs or to pay Rents at which they were originally tax'd The Claims and Demands of this Prince differ'd not much from the most arbitrary Laws and Decrees and the Parties concern'd alarm'd at this after-clap offer'd to come to a fair Composition The chief Lords of each Province came and treated about it with the Chancellor and agreed to pay to the King Ten Marks of Silver for every Fief or Mannor or as it was then call'd for every Land that paid Tribute to the Crown Thus every thing succeeded with this Prince according to his desire and even beyond his hope He look'd upon the alteration of Religion as the happiest and most important passage of his Reign and the humbling of the Clergy who were no less formidable to him than the Danes as a second Conquest of Sweden Of all his Enemies he had none left but Christiern that cou'd make him uneasy or occasion the least disturbance That Prince was still in Flanders from whence he earnestly solicited the Emperor his Brother-in-law that he wou'd contribute his assistance in order to his Restoration Gustavus kept Spies about him who gave him Intelligence that Christiern was levying Soldiers in Holland From thence he concluded that the Threats and Design of a Descent in the Northern Kingdoms were ready to break out into Action and that Sweden and Denmark were like to be the Scene of the War He immediately sent notice of
what Alterations he pleas'd in Religion the Laws and the Property of his Subjects and yet dy'd ador'd by the People and admir'd by the Nobility He left his Kingdom in Peace with all his Neighbors secur'd by a League with France and enrich'd by a fiourishing Trade with all the Nations of Europe the Revenues of the Crown were much augmented his Treasury full his Arsenals well furnish'd there was a considerable Fleet in the Ports the Frontier-places were fortify'd and in a word Sweden was in a condition to strike her Enemies with Terror and inspire her Allies with Respect A CHRONOLOGICAL ABRIDGMENT OF THE History of Sweden ALL Nations have had Historians that have spoken of the Antiquity of their Original with so much Partiality and Exaggeration that a considering Person will hardly venture to depend upon the Authority of the Authors of ancient Chronicles and the Accounts of those remote times The least Affinity of Names is reckon'd a sufficient Ground by most of those ancient or modern Writers to chuse at pleasure among the ancient Hero's and even among the first Inhabitants of the World such a Founder as they thought fit to name for their Country Among those Historians that are so fond of Antiquity and zealous for the Honour of their Country those who have publish'd an intire Body of the History of Sweden have in my Opinion out-done all the Writers of other Nations They scruple not to affirm that Sweden is the ancientest Monarchy not only of the North but even of all Europe According to those creditious or too partial Authors Magog Noah's Grandson came from Scythia to Finland from whence coasting the Gulf of Bothnia to Gothland he settl'd his Son Gethar or Gog in that Country who is said to have been the first Prince of the Goths and the Stock of the Royal Line I will not undertake in this place to decide that famous Question whether Sweden be the original Habitation or only a Colony of the ancient Goths Both these Opinions are asserted by several Authors But I am fully satisfy'd that 't wou'd be a very difficult Task to give a clear and distinct Account of the first Inhabitants of Sweden from whence they came and when they settl'd in that Country Nor wou'd it be less difficult to prove what those ancient Chroniclers seem to suppose that Sweden had Kings almost as soon as Inhabitants for 't is probable that the Heads of Families were the first Princes of the Earth and that Men did not voluntarily submit to a Monarchical Government till they were convinc'd by a long Experience of the Inconveniencies of a tumultuous Liberty But supposing some ancient Manuscript had faithfully preserv'd the Names of the several Lords that have Rul'd in Sweden Who can tell whether they were Kings or only Princes of some particular Country or perhaps Judges and Captains in their respective Jurisdictions And 't is even not improbable that those Heads whose Names are preserv'd were Cotemporary and at the same time Governors of several Provinces and that the reason why Historians rank'd 'em successively in their Writings was that they might have a longer series of Kings to fill up their Chronology In the mean time 't is certain that there is no fixt Aera to be found in the History of Sweden till about the middle of the Twelfth Age before which time the Relations of that Country are full of Darkness and Confusion History intermixt with Fables and embellish'd with fictitious Wonders extracted from old Legends or ancient Songs in heroick Verse which were the only Annals of those Times In those remote Ages all the Princes and Hero's are either Giants or famous Magicians who signalize their Strength and pretended Power by robbing one another and by committing barbarous and unheard of Cruelties against their Enemies Justice and Honesty were unknown in those Ages and even had not so much as a Name among these barbarous Nations All Controversies were decided by force the most violent Men were most respected and 't was reckon'd a dishonor for a Prince not to ravish a Princess before he married her A wild Beast kill'd in the sight of the People or an Enemy surpriz'd and assassinated in his House was enough to make the bold Murderer a Hero while he liv'd and sometimes a God after his death I shall however give the Reader a Catalogue of those ancient Kings as I have collected 'em from Swedish Authors beginning with Eric I. who reign'd as they relate 2000 Years before our Saviour's Birth The Chronology you will find in the Margin according to the computation of those Writers but I shall assert nothing till I come down to nearer Ages where the Truth begins to appear with more certainty and clearness THE Fabulous History OF SWEDEN Eric I. Years of the World THIS Prince's Birth is altogether unknown to us nor are we better inform'd of the means he us'd to become Master of his Country or of what pass'd under his Government Some Authors relate that he sent considerable Colonies into the Islands of the Cimbric Chersonese which at present are part of the Kingdom of Denmark but the Danish Historians will not acknowledge the Truth of a Story that seems to have been invented by some Swedish Writer to raise his Nation to the Honour of Antiquity and at the same time to a kind of Superiority over the neighbouring Nations Vddo Alo Othen Charles I. Biorn Gethar Gylto We have no account of the Reigns of these Princes and the very Fable is here at a stand only their Names are preserv'd By some Authors they are call'd Judges Nor is it known whether they govern'd at the same time or successively in several Provinces of the Kingdom An Interval of 400 Years during which the Fabulous History is altogether silent Othin A famous Magician commanded the Winds as he pleas'd assum'd the form of any wild Beast and had Intelligence of what pass'd in the remotest Places by the means of two Domestick Demons The Report of his wonderful Skil kept his Enemies in â—awe and inspir'd his Subjects with so profound a â—veneration and respect for him that after his Decease they enroll'd him among the Gods The Stories of Magicians and Witches found an easy admittance into the belief and admiration of those credulous and ignorant Ages Humblus If we may rely upon the Testimony of the Swedish Historians this Prince settl'd his eldest Son Dan in the Cimbric Chersonese who lest his Name to the Country Norus his second Son went by his Orders into the most Northern Provinces where he sounded the Kingdom of Norway One may easily perceive that the Affinity of the Names Dan with Danemark and Norus with Norway has given birth to this Story Sigtrug History is altogether silent concerning the Forâ—une and Adventures of the Posterity of Humblus Only 't is observ'd by the Swedish Authors that Sigtrug Usurp'd the supream Power 'T is plain that at that time there was no settl'd Form of